Electrically controlled switch



Dec. 14, 1948. o. l. PRICE 2,455,947

I ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED SWITCH' original 4Filed sept'. 14, 1942 55 Tra- 1 n INVENTOR. @@/mw/ e chf/ica,

BY @f T-R/VEY Patented Dec. 14, 1948 ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED SWITCH Osborne I. Price, Frederick, Md., assignor to Magnetic Devices, Inc., Frederick, Md., a corporation of Maryland n VOriginal application September 14, 1942, Serial No. 458,263. Divided and this application February 22, 1944, Serial No. 523,461

l 4 claims. (c1. 174-140) My invention relates broadly to switches for high potential, high frequency electrical circuits and more particularly to a construction of a quick acting electric switch of high insulation properties operative to establish selective connection between high frequency circuits with high electrical emciency.

This application is a division of my abandoned application Serial No. 458,263 led September 14, 1942, for electrically controlled switch.

One of the objects of my invention is to. provide a construction of electrical switch for high potential, high frequency operation with parts arranged for maximum electrical efficiency and minimum corona.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simplied construction of high frequency, high potential electrical switch having rapid acting solenoid control means associated therewith for shifting the angular position of a contact arm for controlling the transfer of one electrical circuit to another with minimum electrical losses.

Still another object of my invention is to pro-- vide an improved construction of contact mounting for a high frequency electrical switch for insulating the high frequency electrical circuits associated with the contact mounting and substantially preventing discharge to ground.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of electrical switch set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the high frequency electrical switch of my invention; Fig. 2- is a side elevational view of the electrical switch with portions of two of the contact mountings broken away and illustrated in cross section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character I designates the metallic base support for the electrical switch on which there is mounted a solenoid casing 2 adjacent one end and a multiplicity of pedestal insulators shown at 3, 4, 5 and 6 adjacent the opposite ends. The solenoid casing 2 is cylindrical in shape and is formed from magnetic material to provide a return path Vfor the magnetic lines of force through the solenoid. The solenoid casing is solidly secured to the base I in a manner in which the solenoid is not dislodged by shock vibration during rapid action of the electric switch.

Insulated flexible wire connections a and 3017 from the solenoid operating winding extend through apertures in the end of solenoid casing .2 to terminals 3l `carried* by terminal `block 32,

. 2 of insulation material. Terminal block 32 is secured to casing 2 by means of screw threaded studs 33 and 34 which project upwardly from casing 2 through apertures in terminal block 32 and are engaged by nuts 35 and 36 which secure the terminal block 32 in iixed relation to the solenoid casing 2. Convenient connection is made to binding posts 3| for connecting the solenoid winding in the control circuit. The end of the reciprocatory core member 29 is flattened as represented at 31 and is apertured at 38 for the passage of a pin 3E) which pivotally connects the end of the two links and 4I of insulation material. The links 4G and 4I extend on opposite sides of the arm 42 which is also formed from insulation material and pivotally connect with the arm 42 by means of pin 43 preferably formed from insulation material. The arm 42 is journalled in the standards and 46 of insulation material by means of pin 44 of insulation material. The standards 45 and 46 are secured to base member I by means of screws 48 which pass through supporting base I. The standards 45 and 46 are spaced sufficiently to allow the links 40 and 4| which extend on opposite sides of the insulated arm 42 to pass treely between the standards and beneath the journal formed by pin v44 in eiiecting angular movement of arm 42.

k5I and 52 serve as securing means for the crossz arm 53 of conductive material.

A rivet passes through recesses in bracket members 5I and 52 and through cross-arm 53 for maintaining arm 53 in position. The recesses in bracket members `5I and 52 provide convex surfaces over which arm 53 is adapted to slightly rock in adjusting its position to make good electrical connection between the contactors carried by the arm and the coacting aligned fixed contacts. The conductive crossarm 53 has sets of disc-like contacts mounted at opposite ends thereof and on opposite sides thereof as shown at 54 and 55 at one end and 1 at 56 and 51 at the opposite end. These contacts 'coact with sets of xed contacts mounted in insulated relation to the supporting base I.

To provide for the insulated mounting of the fixed contacts, I arrange screw threaded ystuds represented at 58, 59, and 6I which enter screw-threaded recesses in the upper ends of the pedestal insulators f5, 5, 3, and 4, respectively.

Vin cnfdergto provide for adequateinsulationand prevent leakage of high frequency energy the lower extremities of each of the screw-threaded recesses which receive the screw-threaded studs are each packed with a. paste-like electrically conducting material represented at 62 in Fig. 2, havingaarelativelyhigh graphite content. Similarly the securing means by which the pedestal insulators are attached to the 'base l enter screwthreaded recesses in the pedestal insulators as represented for example at 63 in Fig...2 which are packed with paste-like electrically conducting material such as graphite. as* represented at 64. The intimate association of the metallic parts with the insulated material decreases the tendency of .brush or corona discharge under conditions of high potential opleration'of. the switch. The pedestal insulators 6 and 5 have the studs 58 and 59 projecting axially therefrom through washer members 65 and 66. Pedestal insulators 3 and ll each have similar arrangements indicatedby washer members 69 and'l. The studs 5`8'an'd 59veach pass through apertures adjacent opposite ends of strip member TI which electricallyconnects the terminals carried by pedestal insulators 6 and 5. Bracket member. 'l2 is mounted on stud 58 while bracket member 'iis mounted on stud59. Eachl of the bracket members are inclined in the direction of the respective supporting pedestals and each'l carry contact members 'I4 and 15 respectively, These contact members/are aligned with the disc-like contacts 56 and'51 carried by the end of cross arm 53.' Thatis, in one position of the switchas illustrated for example in Figs. 1 and 2, disc-like Contact 51 establishes connection with stationary contact 'l5 with thereciprocatory core member 29 in its extreme ejected position projecting from the solenoid casing, whereas in the opposite remote position, indicated indotted lines in Fig. 2, where reciprocatory core member 29 is moved to the extreme position within the solenoid, disclike contact 56 establishes connection with stationary contact 14. Studs 58 and 59 carry an assembly of washers, nuts and terminals so shaped and streamlined as to minimize. vbrush or corona loss under conditions of'high potential.

For example, stud 58 has washerY 15 thereon with nuts 'I1 and 'I8` screw threaded thereon, with intermediate washer 19 and endwasher 8D thereon, and completed by a ball terminal 8l for preventing, insofar as practicable, losses of corona or brush discharge under high tension conditions. Stud 591 includes washer 82`thereon with nut 83 screw threaded thereon, followed by washer 84 and streamlined capping nut 85. These' parts are shaped to minimize brush or coronav discharge. Similarly the studs 60 and 6l, extending from pedestal insulators 3 and 4 serve as supporting means for contact assemblies which are mounted on brackets 86 and 81. Bracket 86 supports contact 88 includedin a planenwhich extendslatlan obtusefangle with respect to the base plane and servesto establish connection withv the disc-like Contact 55 when cross arm 53 is moved. tothe dotted line position illustrated in Fig.' 2. Bracket 8'! carries contact 89 inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the' base planeof' the switch for establishing contact with the disc-like contact' 55 when cross arm 53 ismoved to the Vposition shown in full line in Figs. l and 2 with reciprocatory core member 29 ejected from the solenoid support 2. The stud 60 is protected against loss due to brush and corona discharge in a manner similar to the arrangement illustratedfor stud 59 in Fig.. 2,

-that is, cap nut 90 shaped toY minimize lossby brush or corona discharge is secured over nut 9| engaged on stud 69 providing for an electrical connection thereon while maintaining a. substantially streamlined terminal.

Thus it will be seen that the switch arm is shiftable through the distance of an acute angle for transferring'connections from one circuit to another. The switch has application to a variety of high potential circuits.

rIhe pedestal insulators 6, 5, 3 and 4 may be formed-from Various materials of highly insulating'qualities. I have used various forms of Vitreous insulators and realize that procelain and many of the synthetic insulation materials now available are admirably suited for insuring high frequency insulation of `the switch of my invention. Accordingly I intend that the pedestal insulators disclosed herein may be formed from any suitable insulation material without limitation.

Although I have' described my invention inv one of its preferred embodiments, I desire'that `itb'e understood'that modifications may be made "and that no limitations uponmy invention are intended other than may beimposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desirel to securevby Letters Patent of the United States, is-as follows:

1. A pedestal insulator supportable from a metallic base, comprising a pedestal structure formed from insulation material, said pedestal structure havingl screw-threaded recesses symmetrically arranged in each end thereof, electrically conductinggraphite packed in each of said recesses, metallic members screw-threaded into each of saidv recesses and abutting the graphite packed therein, the screwl threaded member in one end of said pedestal insulator serving to secure said insulator with respect to a supporting base and the screw-threaded memberin the opposite vend of said'pedestal insulator serving asr mounting means for an electrical contact on the end'of said insulator, said graphite packed in each of said recesses forming an electrically conductive column internally of said pedestal structure corresponding in transverse section to the section of said screw-threaded metallicmembers.

2. A pedestal insulator supportable `from a metallic base, comprising a tapered-member 0f insulation material having screw threaded axially aligned recesses in opposite ends thereof, a packing of electrically conducting graphite disposed in each. of said screw-threadedrecesses, a screw member passing through said-metallic base and entering the screw-threaded recess in one end of said insulator and abuttinglthe electrically conducting graphite in saidrecess for compressing the graphite'therein', a screw threadedv member engaging the 'screw-threadedrecess in the opposite end of said insulation member and abutting against the electricallyV conducting graphite therein for compressing the graphite, and an electrical terminal secured in position by said last mentioned screw threaded member, said packing of graphite forming an electrical conductive column internally of said` tapered member adjacent each end thereof, corresponding in section to the section of said screw threaded vmembers'.

3. A pedestal insulator supportable from a me.- tallic base, comprising a taperedmember'of insulation material having axiallyaligned screwthreaded recesses in opposite ends thereof, a

lpacking. of conductive composition disposed in each of said screw-threaded recesses, a screw member passing through a supporting metallic base and entering the screw-threaded recess in one end of said insulator and abutting the con ductive composition in said recess for compressing the conductive composition therein, a screwthreaded member engaging the screw-threaded recess in the opposite end of said insulation member and abutting against the conductive composition therein for compressing the conductive composition, whereby, a compacted conductive path is provided between said screw members and the insulation material of the pedestal insulator along a central axis therethrough and, a contact device secured in position by said last mentioned screw threaded member said packing of conductive composition internally of said tapered member of insulation material corresponding in transverse section to the transverse section of the screwthreaded members.

4. A pedestal mounted contact structure comprising a supporting base, a substantially solid member formed from insulation material, said substantially solid member being axially recessed in opposite ends thereof where the recesses terminate remote from the solid central section of said member, said recesses being internally screw threaded and forming pockets at the ends thereof interiorly of said member, a packing of electrically conducting forming a lling for the pockets in said recesses and screw members extending into the opposite ends of said member and establishing electrical and mechanical contact with the iilling `of electrically conducting composition therein, one of composition material said screw members operating to connect said nsulation member to said base and the other of said screw members operating to support an electrical contact device, the electrically conducting composition material forming columns internal ly of said solid insulator substantially equal to the transverse section of said screw members.

OSBORNE I. PRICE.

REFERENCES CITED `The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 661,165 Blake Nov. 6, 1900 1,070,674 Fenkhousen Aug. 19, 1913 1,516,585 Austin Nov. 25, 1924 1,543,508 Neal June 23, 1925 1,567,293 Pfiiner Dec. 29, 1925 1,661,823 Hawley Mar. 6, 1928 1,725,122 Aalborg Aug. 20, 1929 1,956,639 Dana et al. May 1, 1934 2,133,768 Hostetter Oct. 18, 1938 2,135,362 Taylor Nov. 1, 1938 2,142,625 Zoethout Jan. 3, 1939 2,265,494 Shaw Dec. 9, 1941 2,322,702 Peterson June 22, 1943 2,356,104 Tognola Aug. 15, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 72,866 Sweden May 2, 1927 426,212 Great Britain 1935 

